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He chuckles. “Trust me, it’s not. And it’s definitely made me realize I’m not ready for more kids anytime soon. One’s enough to handle right now.”
His comment lingers in the air, and I feel a pang of something—relief, maybe, or a touch of disappointment. But I don’t let it show. Instead, I change the subject to something lighter.
“Can you cook?” I ask, curious.
He laughs. “Cooking? Me? The closest I’ve come to cooking is grilling steaks. Although I can make a mean grilled cheese.”
“I think you’d be good at it,” I say, teasing him. “I wonder if they make aprons in your size?”
“Maybe,” he says, still laughing. “But I’m more into physical activities. Like this.” He grabs a breadstick and pretends it’s a hockey stick, making me giggle.
Our food arrives, and we dig in, sharing bites and making silly faces at each other. It’s easy and fun, and I realize how much I enjoy being around Ethan.
After dinner, we take a walk along the nearby park. The night is cool, and the stars are out, making everything feel magical.
Ethan slips his hand into mine, and I feel a rush of warmth. We walk in comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying each other’s presence.
“Thanks for tonight,” I say softly. “I had a great time.”
“Me too,” he replies, squeezing my hand.
He leans down and kisses me, soft and sweet, under the starry sky. It’s perfect, and I feel my heart swell with happiness.
And I didn’t even think about work or Ryan once.
Chapter Sixteen
ETHAN
Iskate across the ice, feeling the cold air rush past me. The puck glides effortlessly from my stick to Ruslav’s, and he takes the shot, scoring another goal. The guys erupt into cheers, and I can’t help but join in.
Life’s been good since Mia and I started seeing each other.
No, scratch that. Life’s been amazing.
After practice, I sit on the bench, wiping the sweat from my forehead. Coach gives us a pep talk, and I catch myself zoning out, thinking about Mia. She’s been feeling a little sick off and on lately, and it worries me. She works too much, always running around coordinating events.
“Hey, Ethan!” Amanda’s voice snaps me back to reality. She’s standing by the rink, waiting for me with Senna by her side. He’s clutching his favorite racing game, eyes wide with excitement.
“Hey, bud!” I scoop Senna up into my arms, making him giggle. “You ready to beat me at racing again?”
“Yeah! I’m gonna win!” Senna declares, his face lighting up with determination.
I chuckle and set him down, turning to Amanda. “How’s he been?”
“He’s great. We had a fun morning, didn’t we, Senna?” Amanda smiles, ruffling his hair. “So, how are things going with Mia?”
I grin, thinking about her. “Things are good. Really good. But I’m worried about her. She’s been feeling a bit under the weather, and I think she’s working herself too hard.”
Amanda nods thoughtfully. “She’s always been a bit of a workaholic, hasn’t she?”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I’ve tried to get her to take some time off, but she’s stubborn. It’s one of the things I love about her, though. She’s so passionate about her job.”
“Well, just keep an eye on her. She’s lucky to have you looking out for her,” Amanda says, giving me a reassuring pat on the back.
“Thanks, Amanda. I will.” I turn back to Senna, who’s already engrossed in his game. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s see if you can beat me this time.”
First, I head to the locker room to shower and change. After drying off, I slip into some comfortable clothes and meet Senna at the arcade area. We play a few rounds, and I let him win a couple of races, his laughter echoing through the room. It’s moments like these that make everything worth it.
